Lock



A. E. MILLER Feb, 27, 1923.

LOCK

Filed Dec. '7, 1920 2 sheets-sheet 1 2 swabs-sheet 2 A. E. MILLER LOCKFiled Dec. 7, 1920 Feb. 27,1923.

I l f/ I IN El a 0 031! M 8m ZUM fimz.

zl tm Patented Feb. 27, 1923.

ARTHUR E. MILLER, OF SACEAMENTG, CALIFORNIA. I

LOCK.

Application filed December '7 1920. Serial No. 428,936.

carrying a plurality of pivotallyunounted bits which are designed toco-act with an equal number of rotating tumblers suitably mounted in thelock-case, and which tumblers are provided with means for engaging anappropriate locking-bolt whereby said bolt may be made to secure andrelease another part.

A leading object of the present invention is to devise a key-operatedlock which'is particularly designed for use in locking the steeringmechanism of an automobile orior securing an automobile accessory,orotlier part against unlawful appropriation, and where the internalarrangen'ient of the lock may be modified at pleasure, to substantiallychange the combination by which the-lock can be opened.

With the above and other objects in view my invention consists of theparts and the constructions and arrangements and combinations of partsforming the improved lock, which 1' will hereinafter describe and claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and inwhich similar reference characters indicate like parts in the severalviews,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a lock embodying my invention. r

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view 0 the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. I

. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the operating key provided with a seriesof pivoted bits.

Fig. l is an end view or" the key showing the key partially turned tospread the bits into substantially fan shape.

Fig. 5 illustrates a series of the key bits detached. 1

Fig.5? shows diagrammatically the positions assumed by various bits whenthe key is turned in the lock.

Fig. 6 shows the application 01 my lock to the housing of the steeringpost'ot [an automobile. i

Fig. 7 is an edge view ofvseveral of the rotating tumblers-assembled. v

In carrying out my invention I provide the lock with a case of suitabledesign and which design will vary according to the particular use towhich the lock is put, one of the face plates of said ease beingprovidedwith a key-hole A, for the insertion of they lock-operatingkey. Thiskeyforms an important portion of the present-invention and. its physicalstructure includes a head B, and a rigid stem or shank C, said stem orshankhaving fitted to it the bent end of a guide pin or rod, D, themajor portion of which extendsparallel with but is spaced from the sideof the stem or shank, and has one end rigidlyunited to the head portionof the key, whereby the rod forms substantially an integral part of thekey.

Surrounding the shank of the key is a spring E, and between this springand the bent end o'f the aforesaid rod orpin is confined a series ofbits or key tumblers Fand which series may consist, of any. desirednumber. In the illustrated embodimentof my invention, 4, Ishow four ofthe foresaid bits, 'cajb, 0, cl, and in Fig. 5, I illustrate these bitssubstantially diagram. matically, or detached from thefshank. of thekey. In order that this: part of in vention may be better-understood, Iwill state that each of the aforesaid bits is pr'ovided with ahubportion e, and a projecting finger, 7"; one edge of the saidhub-portion is cutaway at g' to form a peripheral recess which isconcentric with the axis of the bit and {which'portion is designed toride in contact with the pin or r'od D, and to terminate in a radialabutment or shoulder 7t, adapted to contact the side ofthe pin oi rod D,to limit 'therotation of the bit about its pivotal airis on thekeyshank. In order that the bits, eX'c'ept the initial one, a, may havevaried axial movement, or may be moved to different distances around theshank of the key'a nd to be spread out into substantially a fan-like'formation. after the key has been 'ins'erted in the-lo'ck-case, therecesses in tlreedg'es of the hubs of the bits being made of difierentlengths, as shown in Fig; 5. Cooperating V with.

with the aforesaid pivoted bits, which it will be understood are carriedpermanently by the key, is a like series of rings or rotating tumblers,G, which are appropriately mounted in the lock-casing, said tumblersbeing each provided with a radial lug, i, on its inner circumference andhaving an outwardly projecting radial lug j, on its outer circumference,the latter lug having secured to it a spring wire or plate, It, and thelockcasing being provided with a pair of plus or lugs Z, and m, againstthe former of which the free end of the spring wire or plate is designedto contact to place the said wire or plate under tension when the ringto which it is connected is partially rotated, and the latter lug m,serving as an abutment or stop to limit the rotation of the tumbler byreason of the contact of its radial lug 'i there- It will be understoodthat there are as many of the aforesaid rings placed side by side, orone upon the other, and appropriately spaced apart to allow them to beindependentlyrotated, as there are bits carried by the shank of the key,all of which bits except the initial one, a, which is stationary, beingpivotally mounted, as before stated.

Appropriately mounted in the lock casing is the lock bolt, H. This bolthas its inner end adapted for engagementwith the part to be secured, andif this part is the steering post of an automobile or like vehicle, thehousing of the post or the post itself or a sleeve thereon will have anappropriate recess into which the inner end of the lockingbolt will beappropriately received, when the bolt is pushed inward or assumes itslocked position; In furtherance of this part of my invention, and tocontrol the locking bolt, H, said bolt has its stem or shank providedwith a series of annular grooves, 92, or it may be otherwise recessedfor the reception of the radial lugs i on the outer circumference of therotating tumblers or rings before mentioned.

Surrounding theshank of the locking-bolt is aloose washer I, and betweenthis washer and the underside of the head of the bolt is a coiled springJ, which isheld under compression when the bolt is in its locked posiofthe locking bolt.

From this description it will be understood that the construction of thekey is such that all, of the bits may be assembled in alignment and inperfect register, as indicated infull l nes iii-Fig. 4, to, adapt thekey for insertion within the key-hole of the lock-case. When the key isinserted, the bits are designed to be successively moved to variabledistances until they assume substantially a fan-formation, as indicatedin Figs. 2 and at. The first of the bits is, as before explained,statonary,-the

guide pin,D,engaging the notch of the bit and holding the bit so that itcannot revolve on the axis formed by the stem or shank of the key. Thesecond bit, as the key is turned is to allow the bits which operate theshorter distance, or have the shorter recesses, to pass the projectionor radial lugs, i, on the inner circumference of the rings or rotatingtumblers, except that ring or tumbler with which a particular bit isdesigned to engage and actuate. In practice, I prefer to mount. the bitson the stem of the key and to so place the pin or rod, D, that completerotation of a bit around the stem is impossible, the several bits and ofwhich there'may be any desired number, being held frictionally to getherby the spring E, so that when they are lined up against the pin D fromone side they will all be in line orregister and in position for readyinsertion in the key-hole of the lock-case. lVhen the key has beeninserted, as described, and is turned to the right, all

the bits turn with the key until the bit hav- 7 ing the greatest extentof rotation comes in contact with the lug, i, of the particular diskthat it is to co-act with, and which has its lug arranged in the path ofmovement of said bit. This radial lug will, aswill be understood bythose skilled in the art, hold that particular bit yieldingly in contactwith its co-acting tumbler, but the guide pin or rod, D, which is rigidwith the key, is permitted to continue in rotation until it contactswith the radial shoulder formed in the cut-away edge of the en ved bit.In the meantime the other bitsthave come in contact with the radiallugs,i, of respective rings or tumblers G, the intention being that thebits shall be so selected and placed on the key that they will line upperfectly with the location of the various projections, '5, on thedifferent tumblers, as shown in Fig.2. The bits having asumed theposition shown in said Fig. 2, with one bit resting in contact with eachof the radial lugs of the respective rings or rotating tumblers, and theguide rod resting against the shoulders, 7L, if the key is now rotatedeach bit thereof will be caused to forcibly press against and rotateoneof the disks a certaindistance; the rotation of these disks willresult in the radial projections, j, on the outer circumference of g 5.A lock V tumblers, and a. key having a series of bits .case, said bitsadapted to engage and actuate corresponding tumblers.

4:. A lock, havinga bolt, a series of movable tumblers, and an actuatingkey havlng a series of bits corresponding to the tumblers andsuccessively movable about a common axis when the key is turned, each ofsaid bits being adapted to one of the tumblers, and said tumblers eachhaving a part disposed in the range of action of its respective bit. 1

having a bolt and a series of movable tumblers, in combination with akey having a series of bits axially mounted thereon and successivelyturnable relatively to each other andtransversely of the key so thatthey assume a fan-like formation in the lock during the turning movementof the key, said tumblers having projections positioned in thepath ofrotation of the bits adapted to temporarily retard the independentrotation of the successive bits until each bit finally engages itscorresponding tumbler.

6. In a lock, the combination with a case, a locking bolt and a seriesof rotating tumblers, of a key having a shank provided with a seriesofbits independently turnable relatively to each other and to saidshank, one of the bits of said series being fixed to the key and each ofsaid. bits adapted to engage one of the tumblers and to have itsindividual turning motion restrained thereby until the full complementof bits is engaged by respective tumblers, said key adapted to actuatethe series of tumblers in unison to re lease the locking bolt. t 7. In alock, the combination with a case, a locking bolt and a series ofrotating tumblers, of a key having a shank provided with a series ofbits independently turnable relatively to each other and to said shank,one of the bits of said series being fixed to the key and each of saidbits adapted to engage one of the tumblers and to have its individualturning motion restrained thereby until the full complement of bits isengaged byrespectivetumblers,-said key adapted to actuate the series oftumblers in unison to release the locking bolt, said tumblers havinginternal lugs to contact with the bits and having external lugs toreleasably engage the locking bolt.

8. In a lock, he combination with a case, a locking bolt and a series ofrotating tumactuate the series of tumblers in unison to release thelocking bolt, said tumblers having internal lugs to contact with thebits and having external lugs to releasably engage the locking bolt, aspring contact member fixed to said external lugs, a stop member on thelock case with which the spring mem- I bers contactto retard therotation of the tumblers, and a second stop-member to limit the rotationof the tumblers.

9. In a lock having a bolt and a series of rotating tumblers providedwith internal lugs, a key having a shank provided with a series or"independently turnable bits, one for each of the tumblers, and adaptedto engage the lug thereof, said bits having recesses or" variablelength. and a guide pin fixed to the key adjacent the bits adapted toengage the latter to cause them to actuate the tumblers in unison torelease the bolt.

10. In a lock having a bolt and a series of rotating tumblers providedWith lugs, a key having a shank,a series of bits mounted'side by side onthe shank and movable trans versely thereof one relatively to the other,said bits having means affording a variable degree of rotation thereof,and said lugs adapted to check the independent rotation of successivebits, and a part on the key to contact with the bits to actuate them.and the series of tumblers in unison, to release said bolt.

11. In a lock having a bolt and a series of rotating tumblers, a keyhaving a shank provided with a series of aligned bits independentlytransversely turnable about a common axis, said bits having hubs withrecesses of variable length, and a member on the key for moving the bitsof the series in unison and serving as a guide for aligning the bits,said recesses terminating in end shoulders for the engagement of saidmember.

12. In a lock, the combination with a case, a locking bolt and a series.of rotating tumblers, of a key having a shank provided with a series ofbits independently turnable relativelyto each other and to said shank,one of the bits of said series; being fixed to the 'key and each of saidbits adapted to engage release the locking bolt, and said tumblers andbits being of variable thicknesses;

13. In a lock, the combination with a case, a series of rotatabletumblers mounted therein, and a locking bolt, of a key having a seriesof bits adapted to be successively turned about a common center and toassume substantially a fan-like formaiton after insertion in the case,said bits adapted to engage and actuate corresponding tumblers, and saidtumblers having peripheral lugs with beveled extremities, said bolthaving a recessed side for the extremities of the lugs and having alongitudinal movement in the lock case.

14. An improved lock comprising a case having a keyhole; a locking bolt;a series of annular rotating tumblers assembled in said case, each ofsaid tumblers having a lug on its inner and outer circumference; a keyhaving a shank and a series of independently turnable bits thereon, onebit corresponding to each of the tumblers and each bit having adifi'erent length of axial movement about the key-shank, whereby thebits assume substantially a fan-formation in the lock case, and meansonthe key for aligning the several bits and for actuating the bits inunison to cause the tumblers to release the locking bolt, said boltbeing spring-actuated and longitudinally movable in said case. r

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ARTHUR E. MILLER.

